The Raynham Channel
Welcome to Raynham Community Access & Media (RAYCAM), where we engage, learn, and create community access media. We are dedicated to providing a platform for all voices to be heard and shared. Join us in creating a vibrant and inclusive media community.
The Raynham Channel
Conservation Commission 07/16/2025
(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)
When development meets environmental protection, who decides what happens at the boundary? This fascinating Conservation Commission meeting offers a window into how local officials balance property rights with wetland conservation.
The meeting opens with a commercial development on Paramount Drive, where seemingly small details—like snow storage locations and fence placement—prove crucial for protecting adjacent wetlands. The commission's careful attention shows how environmental protection extends beyond obvious impacts to consider long-term management of developed sites.
A homeowner's request to install an in-ground pool demonstrates that even typical backyard improvements require thoughtful review when near wetland resources. By positioning the pool outside critical buffer zones and relocating an existing shed, the commission finds a practical compromise that allows the improvement while enhancing wetland protection.
The most challenging case involves a proposed single-family home that requires crossing an intermittent stream to access buildable upland. The applicant's plan to mitigate wetland impacts through replication draws constructive criticism from commissioners concerned about the location's potential to affect neighboring properties. Their detailed feedback aims to improve the project rather than simply reject it, highlighting the collaborative approach that characterizes effective conservation work.
Throughout the proceedings, we see officials working to find solutions rather than simply enforce regulations. They understand that environmental protection and community development aren't opposing forces but complementary goals requiring thoughtful integration. Their decisions balance ecological concerns with practical realities, ensuring that both natural resources and property rights receive careful consideration.
Whether you're a property owner planning improvements near wetlands, a concerned citizen interested in environmental protection, or simply curious about how local government works, this meeting demonstrates the importance of informed, collaborative decision-making in sustaining both community growth and natural resources.
https://www.raynhaminfo.com/
Copyright RAYCAM INC. 2024
you All right. First up is a continued notice on the 10th, the zero paramount drive and that 15 watt 176-3g bep number 269 1070. Opposed commercial voting evening, sir.
Speaker 3:Thank you, mr chairman. My name is rob forks. I'm seeing that myself, engineers. Uh, just an update from the last meeting mission. We was basically three things. Mission that asked for me to show snow storage areas which I've added to the plan, which is it hasn't been submitted yet, they don't have all the revisions made yet. Highlighted in purple here. And this Jimmy would ask for a fence with signage on it as well to prevent people from getting from the parking area into the wetlands. And I have that show highlighted. An orange here starts at the retaining wall and goes all the way around for the property on the property line. The other thing was, as it was going to review the project and I have received his comments about him yesterday. I just haven't had a chance to revise that. I think everything seems pretty straightforward. I just need to get that, get that stuff to us. Okay, I was going to leave.
Speaker 4:Yeah, no, I talked to Bob and then he will address them and then, because you know it was deleted, vacations and everything else. But I did tell him that once we get the response we'll review it very quickly and then, if everything is kosher, or prepare the draft for our conditions. We do some to review that way. Okay, doesn't hope you're the next week, okay, any, comments from the prison the orange doesn't extend.
Speaker 3:I think that's what, mr chairman. I think that's what you asked me to do.
Speaker 5:Yeah, that's how you do it, you can't drive over retaining wall it's not about driving, though it's also about snow storage and um it's not about vehicles access vehicles access.
Speaker 2:It's also about not putting material well. Yeah, yes, I mean, and that's correct.
Speaker 5:That's why the areas of the purple have been identified for snow storage. But I'm talking about the orange. It's not extending along that more retainable. So the signage is designated by the orange but it's not being some. The signs aren't extending along the retaining wall all right, I'm not I'm sorry, I'm not following, so starting on the left-hand side.
Speaker 3:So you would ask me to bring it to the retaining walk, retaining wall which serves a barrier. I understood it was more to prevent people from doing site work over there. Well, you, accessing the wet ones later, and that would be the retaining wall, would serve that purpose well it was.
Speaker 2:I guess it was twofold. One was to make sure no vehicles, you know, could store them over the program saying it right yeah, you don't want access to the air.
Speaker 5:You also don't want materials, correct, because it's inside the 25, correct?
Speaker 3:so so are you just saying so? This is where we? This is that little lip where we're touching the 25. You want me to extend it?
Speaker 5:I would extend it all the way along.
Speaker 3:That, no problem, and most of it's not. You're not going to be able to see it because the wall is going to be higher than the fence. So that's. I have no problem doing that, though you know, see that's the way I kind of stood it.
Speaker 5:There's like a four or five foot wall in the back. Yeah, they're gonna have loaders clown snow there. That can easily get up over that, yeah, so that's right, that's be happy to do that. Okay, it should go all the way to the corner, that other corner which other corner are you're talking? So yeah, no, you don't go. That's the list, but probably a little bit past that it. Just let me know which one, this one, that one that you're at, and then a little bit to the right this whole.
Speaker 3:Okay, so I'll bring it right to, I'll bring it right right to it, okay, yeah, overall, okay anyone else?
Speaker 2:all right, anyone in the audience?
Speaker 6:have any comments questions no, okay, um, would you like to continue to the august 6 meeting, please? Okay, motion, okay. Motion to continue mercy the 10th. Okay, motion, okay. Motion to continue immersive intent.
Speaker 2:Zero, zero paramount drive at 15, 176-3g dep 269 1070 opposed commercial building uh to the august 16th. 60. Motion. Second all in favor, aye, aye, opposed. Unanimous, great, thank you very much. Yep um, zero, uh, cell speedies. Are you here? Sorry, would you mind if we just skip one of you? He's this engineer for the next project after you, so make it a little bit easier.
Speaker 2:I didn't realize that we're doing the schedule. It's only fine, all right. Thank you, sir, all right. Next up is notice content. I mean, I'm sorry, those who attend the 10 Maple Street. Ep 2, 6, 9, 10, 72, proposed 18 by 36 in ground pole. It's me again cards in an ad, please um yeah, I brought.
Speaker 3:I brought multiple plans on zoo assets to have the surveyor, uh stamp them.
Speaker 1:So I have any plans here. We think it easier for you guys it's one sheet, that's one sheet.
Speaker 3:So if it's three, that's three of the same sheet yeah, that's one sheet so it's three, that's three of the same
Speaker 6:sheet. Yeah, Okay. Notice of public hearing Conservation Commission Raynham, Massachusetts. In accordance with Massachusetts general law 131 section 40 in the town of Raynham local bylaw, the Raynham Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at 5.30 pm at the Donovan McKinnon Reading Room in the Raynham Veterans Memorial Town Hall located at 558 South Main Street, Raynham, Mass. On a notice of intent filed by Apollo Pools and Spots, the applicant proposes the construction of an 18x36 in-ground pool with associated apron grading and landscaping with a hundred feet of the borderly vegetated wetlands at the location of 10 maple street, raynham, mass. And associate assessors map lot, map 4, lot 181b-21. Copies of the application may be and plans may be viewed at the rcc office to a normal business opportunity all right, go ahead, sir.
Speaker 3:Okay, thank you, mr chairman. Uh, again, bob forbes museum of consulting engineers. Um, this is a relatively simple proposal. They're proposing to install an in-ground pool in the backyard of an existing home. Uh, it's all within the area. That's already been cleared. I did actually look at Google Earth images going all the way back to when the home was constructed. It's exactly the same tree line that was done upon construction of the home, so nothing's changed since then. The pool is out, completely positioned outside the 25 foot, no disturb. We moved it as far away from the wetlands as we could and still fit it on into the backyard here, so we pushed it up to this corner. As you can see, if it was down here would be much closer to the wetlands. We're showing a double row of hay bales, which I know the commission likes to see for erosion control, as shown on the plants, and that's pretty much it. I can answer any questions that you may have.
Speaker 4:All right, yeah, azul, we'll start with you. Yeah, so I looked at it. The reason they go for a notice we suggested that they do a notice of intent is because they don't have 50 feet from the water, but they maintain it at 25 feet. So basically, they asked them to make sure that the surveyor that's responsible for the work certified the plan, and that's what they would have been for the plan.
Speaker 2:I'll start. I know I've been up to property when they first were talking about it. So everything proposed here is basically going on existing grass. So it's not any new, new disturbance, it's on existing grass. The only thing I would suggest that we correct is just move that shed forward while we have machinery there. Uh, out of the 25 foot, no touch yeah, is that something you're gonna? End it okay. Yeah, that would be my only no problem, just say actually yeah, not a problem.
Speaker 3:It just that that was there when the house was constructed.
Speaker 2:So not a problem, don't worry, I've been out to the the site. Um, actually, I was just out there before we came here. It's always the state. All right, should I close the hearing? Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, no, okay, so it's called the hearing, please, all right motion close motion to close notice of intent.
Speaker 6:And April E3 269 10, 17, almost 18 by 36 in ground cold.
Speaker 2:Second Motion to be made. Seconded All in favor, aye Opposed.
Speaker 4:Oh, it's not intended right now. Okay, so if you do the order, you can send them at 6. Okay, because that way we can include the condition.
Speaker 3:Okay, five okay, thank you very much.
Speaker 2:Next up is a notice of intent for 0 South Street East, map 17, block 59, dep number 269-1071, proposed single-family dwelling um and you have newspaper article and green cards please this is where I need to go.
Speaker 5:In accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 131,1, section 40, in the town of random, local bible, the random conservation commission will hold a meeting or public hearing on wednesday, july 16 2025, at 5 30 pm. Located at 558 south main street in massachusetts. On a notice of intent filed by JDE Civil Incorporated, the applicant owner, aquino Smith, proposes to construct a single-family home with associated driveway access and municipal water and sewer connections. The property is located at 0 South Street East in. That's what's been shown on.
Speaker 4:Assessors Map 17, plot 59.
Speaker 2:All right, all right, just wanted to go one second.
Speaker 7:All right, go ahead, sir. Perfect, thank, thank you, uh, for the record, my name is josh white, I'm jd civil. I'm representing okino smith, the owner of the property. This property is located at the end. It's got got an address of 0 South Street East, but it's located at the end of Carlton Street, which is an existing private way at the intersection of Carlton and Pine Street, which is a paper street not constructed.
Speaker 7:Basically, the wetlands, the BBW on the property is associated with an intermittent stream that basically bisects the front part of the parcel and it's about 1.1 acres of uplands across that intermittent stream.
Speaker 7:So that's one of the reasons we're here for you tonight. This is the existing management plan that shows the wetlands and the stream provided by private landslides, and then on this plan we need potatoes at the portal. It's a proposed single family home with a KDU proposed next to it. Obviously, the only way to access the uplands on this property is to cross the wetlands somewhere. So we tried to design it to cross at the closest point between the two wetlands to minimize the wetland impact and stream intermittent stream impact as much as possible for for this. So we have a box culvert to cross the animated stream and then the proposed driveway on top of that up into the house. As it was mentioned, we are going to have town water and sewer that we're planning on bringing in from Carlton Street. We have a proposed E1 sewer pump from the house to go up to the way up here.
Speaker 7:There's a manhole and the other three houses, I believe, on Carlton Street all have this similar setup. So it's just going to be a low pressure forest main and then one water service from the existing main. It's a hydrant right there at the end of Carleton Street Bringing a new water service up to the house and the ADU. We did look into just a little bit of backstory on this. So we did look into doing a septic system on this that we knew there'd be quite a ways to do sewer, to pump out a ways. But the amount of fill that would need to be brought in just for the subject system alone, with the high groundwater that was encountered and the, it wasn't horrible um perc rate but it wasn't great. So it created a large system. So that's that's why we ended up going with proposing to connect to sewer, going with proposing to connect to the sewer we do for sediment controls.
Speaker 7:We've got a double row of wattles surrounding the entire limit of work, from the cul-de-sac all the way around and in the areas where we're kind of closest to the river, kind of closest to the wetlands and the 25 foot, no disturb, we do have a proposed split rail fence basically along that 25 foot buffer.
Speaker 7:Um, like I mentioned, the box culverts 10 feet wide by 20 feet long, by two and a half feet tall, which is pretty similar to another project we did in town a couple years ago. So that's consistent with what the Tomahawk is looking for. As far as the crossing those, just to throw some of the impacts out there, we've got about 267 of temporary disturbance relating to work with the crossing and the admitted stream itself. We're proposing 2,255 square feet of wetlands to be filled for the driveway which is basically from leaving this blue line here between the blue lines, and to compensate that we are proposing 2,300 square feet of wetlands to be replicated basically in this area. So with that it's greater than a one-to-one ratio for reputation. The limit of work that we have within the 25 foot buffer is about 3,800 square feet. The total limit of work in the 100-foot buffer is about 20,000 square feet, about 6,000 located outside the 100-foot buffer zone.
Speaker 2:Sir, before you move up, could you just point out again where the replication area was.
Speaker 7:Sure, it's down here. This is the property line and this is the crossing, obviously. So this is where we're proposing the wetland replication area. We did have assistance from Brad Holmes of Environmental consulting and restoration, who prepared this plan for the proposed replication area, and that's pretty much it, so we'll take any feedback that the Commission and the agent have on this.
Speaker 4:The gridding is. If you can look at it, the gridding is very steep, so you need a soft fence to back up the walls. The walls will be be very quickly and the surface would provide a visual barrier. Well, in this case, I would suggest the head bills yeah, the head bills butted against the surface, and then the proposed replication should be closer to where they're disturbing them.
Speaker 5:I also don't like the location because it's gonna increase the wetland impact. How do you adjacent. Because you're going into them all the way down here. You gotta go on. Your property on your side Makes no sense.
Speaker 4:So I think it will. They got room right here. Right there, just into the one place. Yeah, Right here. That way you don't have to. When you transplant the material that you're taking out of the awareness area, you can put it right there. So the replication area is right there. It's two far away.
Speaker 7:They got plenty of room there for replication Great.
Speaker 2:Where else are you? The top corner between your 25 no touch and line where it comes to a stream.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the other side, I got right there, right in this area.
Speaker 5:You're going to increase the property, push the weapon from the weapon impact onto somebody else. The the zones are going to extend further into their property. That's my problem. Oh, I see that's what you saying. So you've got to do it someplace where it's not going to impact the problem.
Speaker 4:Oh, they're going to do it right here, up in this corner, here, yeah.
Speaker 5:Yeah, yeah, that one Okay. And extending it along that I mean it's not closed, but at least it'll be crossing disturbed area and you won't have to disturb a new section and it won't affect properties adjacent by equipment, I don't think that's acceptable. Extend that 25 foot, no-t touch, because that happens out into somebody else's leg. Wow, thank you.
Speaker 1:What's called the.
Speaker 4:Right there, minimizes the disturbance in the screen, which is part of the cause of the single-end model. I'm looking at the uh, the platform street, which is no, I was worried about the place of the bolt that they didn't feel the flow. You mean by the screws right here. Yeah, that's why I thought you should, and there's no. This is the composite color. Okay, yeah, and it gets stopped short of that. Yeah, you want your one there, ed.
Speaker 2:Yeah, thanks, man Special. I mean according to the split rail fence here. Yeah, is that sure, around the rock wall. Is that rock wall? It's basically.
Speaker 1:It starts here.
Speaker 7:It starts here, yeah, and then it goes down here, yeah, and then it goes down here, yeah, and then it goes down here, yeah, and then it goes down here, yeah, and then it comes up here and it's right along the edge of the driveway, pretty much all the way outside the 25 foot here, and then same thing on the other side goes all the way around to here.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's a good distance. Yeah, and it does so see yeah, those so you show what three layers of rock walls are they going to be terraced?
Speaker 7:Yeah, yeah, there's going to be boulder walls at this point is what we're looking for. We know there's a lot of rock out there from the soil testing, so that's what we're planning on terracing down to.
Speaker 2:Alright, and some type of ground cover to hold the soil afterwards?
Speaker 1:Yeah, the only other thing I do think of is signage at the top of the driveway where it has a 25-inch touch.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, pretty much all the signage yeah, a lot of the front here, from the property line. Yeah, from the, probably, why this side, yeah, this other side of the driver. Okay, anybody else? All right. Anybody from the audience have any questions? Concerns, sure, you all set Alright, so you can make those adjustments on the plans and next meeting.
Speaker 7:Yeah, we'll have to go back to our botnist and see if he thinks there's a better area for that. Like, I get what you guys are saying, that we're going we don't want to impact other properties, but we picked this area because it's one and then, as far as not impacting other properties, it's an existing undeveloped lake, that Pine Street side.
Speaker 2:But it's not to say it won't be developed in the future. And then the other problem I see with it is you're going through to get to it, to work on it.
Speaker 7:You're going to have to go through the weapons, so you're going to be creating more disturbance just to get to them, to create a weapons okay, so that doesn't make sense, okay we'll go back to that and see what other options that against you all right, uh, so we're going to continue to uh yes, please, okay.
Speaker 6:Motion I mentioned to continue the notice of tenants off the street east map 17.
Speaker 2:I will second that motion to be made. Seconded. All in favor, aye, opposed, unanimous, all right. Next up is request for the chairman all street roadway pipe construction, pipe destruction. This is being submitted by the highway department. This is an after the fact work, just a history of it. So they were out there for something else they found the road was. The pipe had collapsed, so it was an emergency repair so go ahead, sir.
Speaker 5:Yes, commissioner, I need to apologize. I'm on first-seeing circumstance today, so I don't have the green cards with the tear sheet, so I understand that you may not be able to open this here is here.
Speaker 2:Oh, okay, I also need to apologize. Sorry for taking your time um.
Speaker 5:So we're planning to read notice for the six yeah, yeah, I'm gonna be out of the price, email the tear sheet or the crane cards have a scan of the cards that we've received so far.
Speaker 1:We have received all of them put the white mailing.
Speaker 5:Um, I don't know that I have a copy of this online.
Speaker 1:I don't know that I have a copy of this. I didn't know if I already had it, because then I may have printed it no I don't, so we can do a look at it. My colleague works on this. I don't think she sent it Okay.
Speaker 3:Sorry. No, I apologize Sorry. This was just a repair, it's not new construction right?
Speaker 2:No. Okay, so this was just a repair. It's not new construction, right? No, it was all just damage to the roadway um pipe collapsing. It didn't say repair on the notice, so that's that's where it said construction. Oh yeah, so everybody thinks that it's new. Yeah, no, no, the pipe had collapsed. Um, it was backing up a lot, not that I can answer questions or talk about it, but I'm just talking out loud to the history.
Speaker 4:Thank, you appreciate it, thank you he was going to re-advertise it and we notified him for the meeting because that's kind of begging the discussion of the application. That's not a company.
Speaker 2:But we can't open the hearing and we cannot be discussing the project but when he gets, I can't stop him from telling you about the hallway he's not going to come out thank you sorry, convenience all right um all right, all right. Everybody get a chance to read the minutes from June 25th motion to accept. I will second that I which one.
Speaker 1:Oh yes, I'm sorry actually I have two to read under correspondence.
Speaker 2:Um, we did receive for the for the um, public safety. Yes, so that's not in the paperwork that you have. That was just emailed out to you guys. So we did get a request from the um applicant to continue how we did the oct. Uh, they said the august meeting. They just said the august meeting. Okay, um, so motion to continue. Why don't you need to?
Speaker 4:continue second, second, second, six.
Speaker 2:I want you to continue second, second, six, six two, the public safety building at two, two, five, four, king phillips three. I will second that most of the main. Second all in favor. All right, um, before we get the bills to a correspondence. Uh, if you remember, a few weeks or a month ago we had before us silver engineering want to do a water line to a couple lots on Oakland Street. They have sent a letter to the Commission regarding the EP number two, six, nine9, 1069, map 17, lot 61, oakland street. Dear commission members, on behalf of our client, michael keith, silver engineering associates request to respectfully withdraw without prejudice the notice of intent application for zero open. Um, we also got a letter from 63 guidance Street, pinebrook consulting. Did the remember we were had an enforcement order for guidance Street for worked on in the weapons and they did a replication. The work has been done, it has been receded and we planted that's what it looks like today. No, I mean the enforcement orders the.
Speaker 4:SOS make a motion to rescind or close the enforcement order. So this is an enforcement order. Yeah, yeah, it was still in effect. So if you're accepting the report that they've been complying with that enforcement order, then you will enter the motion to close out the enforcement order.
Speaker 2:Okay, so I'll entertain that motion.
Speaker 6:Motion to close out the enforcement order on Garden Street. 63 Garden Street.
Speaker 2:I will second that. All in favor, aye Opposed Against. Thank you, we have one bill, just one. Yes, no site visits at the moment.
Speaker 4:Is it?
Speaker 6:a good thing, I don't know Good I will second that.
Speaker 2:All in favor. Aye, I will second that. All in favor Aye, opposed yeah, I support. So I need someone to volunteer for assistance. I recommend, will I second that motion all in favor aye we're done. I need one more motion. I have a motion to adjourn second second all in favor aye. Second Second All in favor. Aye. Opposed yes.